“She called you that, I assumed, it was allowed,” I shrugged, acting all unbothered, as I registered the small reaction changes on her face and body.
Her eyes closed for a split second before she took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling. I barely noticed the sports bra she was dressed in and the way her breasts lifted from the air expanding her lungs.
“Get down on the mat,” she nodded to the mat laid out by the mirror next to the torture device. Rosie's voice was stern as she motioned me towards her.
I obeyed silently, keeping the funny remarks to myself. It was clear she didn't want my jokes.
Her face turned pensive as she scrolled on her phone, and upbeat pop music sounded from the speakers.
“Let's do a core sequence on the mat, and then we’ll do stretches. I don't feel comfortable having you on the reformer. I'm not qualified for that. If something hurts, tell me.”
“Okay,” I nodded, watching as she pulled a mat up next to mine, her sweet vanilla scenthitting me.
“I'll do it with you,” she muttered, lying next to me, her head turning to me. “Make sure your lower back is pushed to the mat, no space. Breathe in and out, I'll tell you when and just lift the upper part of your body. We will do different leg positions to stimulate your hip flexors, too, and give you more stability.”
I bit back yet another remark, suggesting other things that would be way more stimulating for my hips, as she seemed to be all business.
“Stop,” she narrowed her eyes at me as I let out a low chuckle. “Gosh, you're so dirty-minded.”
“It's been a while since I got laid,” I offered as an explanation, but I was met with a blank stare. “Fine, not your problem. Got it. Lower back stays on the mat, and I follow you. Yes, boss.”
Rosie rolled her eyes, but it did seem like a ghost of a smile kissed her lips.
I'll take that as a win.
“On my count,” she instructed me, lifting her legs in a tabletop position, and I watched in awe as her spine melted onto the mat in one straight line. “Three, two, one...” she counted down, and we started.
I watched as she lifted her shoulders off and went back. Breathing equally in and out as she guided me. We did a couple of counts of simple up-and-downs with legs in place. Then we moved on to single-leg extensions, then to double-leg extensions. My core burned from such a simple exercise, but to be fair, the most I’d done before was planks, so it made sense. I wasn't even sure how I had a six-pack when my core shook from simply keeping myself up.
But doing it together with Rosie, to her upbeat music, made it easier. I wasn't alone in it, and I wasn't being judged. She simply supported and guided me.
“Good,” she offered a small smile, and her short workout seemed to be elevating her mood. “Let's do some gentle stretches. Can you dofigure four stretches?”
I glanced at her, confusion clear on my face, and she chuckled.
“Sorry, it's when you put your ankle over your knee and push your knee down while pulling your other leg.” She quickly demonstrated.
“Yep,” I nodded. “We did that before.”
“Great, cross your right leg over the left.”
“Yes, boss.” Rosie offered a small smile as she watched me stretch, her face serious as she waited for any sign of distress.
“Good? Does it hurt?” she asked, as she changed her legs, and I followed.
“I'm not going to break,” I grumbled, annoyance creeping up my spine. She treated me like I would fall apart at the smallest effort.
Rosalie bit into her lower lip and nodded. “Yeah, I know. Sorry.”
We stretched in silence, and she didn’t ask me what hurt or if I did anything else, and I simply followed her initiative in every move until she stopped the music, and my head popped up looking at her curiously.
“We're done,” she said, as if I didn't realize. “Do you need to change?”
“I'm good,” I stood, and moved to help her wipe down the mat and the reformer. “Thanks for stepping in.”
Rosie nodded, retreating into her silent shell. I let her stir in her pot, not offering to put her out of her misery.
“See you around,” I offered quietly, once I threw the wet wipes in the trash and threw my hoodie over my head.
